This episode looks at why your partner might struggle to “just get over” something that feels small to you. Often, their reaction isn’t really about the forgotten text or missed plan—it’s about old wounds from times they felt invisible or unimportant. Instead of brushing it off, the episode shows how empathy and repair can turn these moments into opportuniti ... Show More
Apr 20
Don’t Punish the Vulnerability You’ve Been Begging For
This episode explores the common relationship dynamic where one partner struggles to share vulnerably, and when they finally do, they’re met with criticism, correction, or defensiveness. The hosts explain how these responses unintentionally “punish” vulnerability and reinforce sh ... Show More
59m 44s
Oct 2025
Heal First, Love Better: The Repair Framework That Changes Everything
<p>Baya Voce opens up about the hidden cost of living in a world that promises everything without friction while our relationships demand the exact opposite. She shares the counterintuitive truth that bending over backwards in relationships isn't love, it's self-abandonment, and ... Show More
1h 14m
Sep 2025
People Pleasing and the Fawn Response with Meg Josephson
Forrest and therapist Meg Josephson explore the fawn response, a survival strategy where safety is sought by pleasing other people. They discuss how fawning can start as self-protection in childhood, but later morph into overthinking, hypervigilance, and self-abandonment. Meg sha ... Show More
1h 14m
Aug 2023
#247 - Lets Talk About Sex with Eleanor Hadley
<p>Let’s talk about SEX!</p><p>If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I don’t shy away from many topics, including anything and everything to talk about sex.</p><p>If you don't want to hear about all things sex, this one is not for you. But if you’re interested and wa ... Show More
1h 26m
Nov 2025
How to Be Yourself: Authenticity in Relationships with Elizabeth Ferreira
In this very fun episode, Forrest and Elizabeth discuss how to get on the same team in a relationship. They explore how conditions of worth, masking, and developmental trauma can get in the way of showing up authentically, and how falling into common relationship roles can reinfo ... Show More
1h 12m
Sep 2025
2729: [Part 1] Why is it Hard to Talk About Feelings? by Keith Wilson on Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Avoidance
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 2729: Keith Wilson explores why expressing emotions can be so challenging, even for those who are emotionally intelligent. ... Show More
10m 29s